Baby Chicks Are Dying

[beetlebob]

thank you all for the help. i did raise the heat lamp up some and it does seem to be helping. if there's anything anybody can think of please let me know. i just hope i don't lose anymore and that the company i got them from can send replacements for the ones who didn't make it.


Bob

 

[beetlebob]

Well, I thought my chicks would be ok by lowering the temperature down to 90 degrees but they keep dying. So far, I have lost almost half of my Rhode Island Reds over the weekend. I started out with 20 of them and I'm down to 11 right now. Do I need to seperate breeds in the brooder? I have Rhode Island Reds, White Plymouth Rock and Americaunas.


Bob

 

[theberlinfam]

If it's heat they would all be huddled away from the lamp and panting. Are any of them panting? Do you have them on medicated starter food? That will prevent coccisidosis (spelling??) which can rapidly kill baby chicks.

Good luck! I hope everything stabilizes!

 

[beetlebob]

they're not panting at all. some huddle under the heat lamp and some just sleep on their own. i had them vaccinated for maericks disease. i don't know what the symptoms of the disease youre talking about are. the chick starter food is medicated. that was the only type food for them i could find around here in the San Antonio Texas area.


Bob

 

[bock]

I am so sorry. Maybe something happened during shipping and the RIR's are just weaker? I wish I could help, I am hoping no more die!

 

[crj]

Could the chicks be getting a draft since you have a screen for the base? If it were to hot the chicks would move to a cooler spot. I would put some kind of bedding in there even if it is just newspaper. Also, since the rabbit cage is new does it have cedar, or is it stained? does it have a chemical smell to it that would be enough to kill the chicks? Anything new that hasn't aired out could be a problem. Just a few things to consider. You may want to try some vitamins in the water. Poly-Vi-Sol baby vitamins work great on my birds. You would find them in any drug or grocery store in the baby section. Good luck, I hope the rest of your chicks survive.

 

[beetlebob]

no chemicals in the cage. it had been set up for about two weeks awaiting the arrival of the chicks. should i put something around the cage to block any drafts? i read where one person did and they killed almost all of their flock. i'm just at a loss and can't figure it out. they just keep dying. i started out with 30 total chickens and now i'm down to 20. i have lost 10 birds so far in two days!! could it be the medicated feed? i switched the water from having vitamins to just plain water and that's not doing anything. i'm thinking about taking the feed out and see what that does. i have the company i bought them from emails saying i keep losing birds each day and that i'm going to call them on monday and see what they can provide to include replacing the birds. i literally don't know what to do!!!!


Bob

 

[beetlebob]

oh yeah, we put a small towel in there for a bedding and they enjoy that. we take it out frequently too and replace it.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Be sure that your light bulb is NOT an infrared bulb. That heats up the objects below instead of the air. I think these are easily mixed up.

 

[allpeepedout]

Are you sure they are all active and drinking, like every 30 mins? Again, mine that seemed overheated was NOT moving away from the heat, and it was only until 2 others started panting that I had a clue the collapsed one was in heat stress. I would give them bedding, or something comfortable. Does it feel drafty? Does it feel very warm but comforatble to your hand, after a few minutes in there? Maybe shipping stress + possible overheating + possible dehydration = too much, despite the many changes you've made. Or disease etc. So sorry. Hope you figure it out.